Reach

Species

Habitat Type

Recommended Action

Actions/Needs

Rationale

Comments

Mainstem

Coho, Steelhead, Chum

Decommision upper watershed roads, i.e. forest service road network

significant sedimentation in lower sections due to forestry roads and unstable deep seated failures in upper sections.

Major scouring event in 1990 scoured upper channel and plugged lower channel with debris and sediment, causing excessive widening

Forest service agreed to decommission 26 miles of mid-slope roads across Deep and Twins watersheds. One of them will be a trail.

Lower mainstem

Coho, Steelhead

spawning and rearing

Slow down velocity to reduce mortality, increase habitat, reduce scour and incision, and improve access to tributaries

Continue monitoring of extensive restoration actions to date

Throughout watershed

Coho, Steelhead

spawning and rearing

Protect riparian corridors to prevent additional damage to watershed hydrology processes and salmonid habitats.

Acquisition of slopes, 500 foot river corridors, fluvial landscape, and all of the floodplains will ensure corridor stability, riparian refugia, cool stream temperature, and protect water quality and velocity.

Current forestry practices and buffers are not sufficient to prevent changes to river hydrology and damage to salmonid habitat. Helicopter logging would reduce roads and some sedimentation but remaining riparian corridor will still be insufficient for providing necessary refugia for shade, large woody debris, and stability.

Acquire available forestry properties, retain crucial riparian strips, and sell remainder with proceeds to be used to purchase additional properties.